The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-08-23
TILE COMING ELECTION,

published its platform. The IIa-
waiians have held their meetings,
and delegates from the various
wards have approved their ticket
for the coming election. The issue
is now fairly joined. The election
returns will show how
"The weapon that comes down rs still
As snowilakes fall upon the sod.
VIII execute the freemen's will
AS lightning does the will of God"
No one has yet gained such mas
terry over the forces of nature as to
disprove the old 0dage, "There's no
telling where the Lightning will
strike" Some of our aspiring can
didates for political honors have
already had their hopes blighted by
failing to secure the approval of the
Nominating Convention.
An estimate of the probable vot-
ing population of the city will show
what elements of uncertainty there
are in the very constitution of our
political community. The census
of 1884 reported, in Honolulu, 4 ,693
native males. One-third of these,
1850 are under 20 years of age,
leaving probably 5000 native IIa-
waiian voters. Yet only 2,200 Votes
were poIled at the last election,
800 for the Palace party. There
were two years ago 800 Portuguese
males, and as their present number
is at least one-third more than when
the census was taken, the Portu-
guese vote may be reckoned about
300. Other foreigners, not includ-
ing Asiatics or Polynesans, then
numbered 1850 males. Deducting
one-ffth as under the voting age, or
otherwise disqualified, we have a
total of 800. The number actually
enrolled on the Registers books has
not yet been ascertained. The grand
total of the voting population of
Honolulu, under the new Consttu-
ton, on the basis above stated,
would be 300, making $500 votes
necessary to secure majority, if
every one qualified to vote should
do so. Will more than 2,200 Ha-
waians vote?
The Reform Party, organizing
their convention on the basis of one
delegate for every 20 members be-
longing to the Reform Clubs, and
having 100 delegates, would appear
to have $500 voters in their party
organization, apparently about the
requisite number to secure a majo-
rIty at the election. But it is evil
dent that there must be no prema-
ture shouting of victory. The
figures show q close division of the
voting population similar to that
existing at the present time in the
United States on the liquor ques-
ton in politics, prohibitonists and
saloonmen having now about the
same numerical strength.
Assuming that the Hawaiians, as
represented in the Kaumakapili
meeting, will naturally vote for
their own nominees, it is evident
that the Reform party has no easy
task, in the few days remaining
before September II, to do such
thorough and faithful work with
every individual voter, as to assure
the election of their candidates be-
yond q peradventure. The hume
rical proportion of the Portuguese,
800 out of 1900, might show that
their is some foundation for their
reported disappointment that out of
the - candidates on the ticket of
the Reform party, not one is taken
from their nationality. But it is
hopeless for them to think Of elect
ing one of their number on any
ticket of their own. Nor are they
yet under such strict priestly or
partisan control, that they can be
pledged to cast their vote solid for
one ticket or the other.
The chief element of uncertainty
is the Independent vote. So close
is the election likely to be, under
the most favorable showing for the
Reform party, that it behooved the
nominating conventions to be very
discriminating in their selection of
candidates. Supposed availability
with certain classes, the fremen or
the military, the merchants or the
mechanics, is false test of can
didates fitness. The average moral
standard of the community is a
truer test of political availability.
To be righteous over much, tithing
mint, anise and cummin, forgetting
the weightier matters of justice,
love and truth is sure political
death. TO fall below the average
moral standard of the community,
is to make doubtful the success of a
party with such standard bearers.
Much will be borne by political
party in the way of moral delin-
quency; but there is point, where
the strain results in a break. Some
one or more on the opposing ticket
may receive enough votes to make
sure of careful scouting by the
party managers, lest opportunity be
given for evoking too strong an
opposition within the party.
Both in the men it selects for re-
representatives., and the measures it
chooses to secure its ends, the
Beform party is now on trial. In
asking its adherents to give their